Under a spotlight, wearing a grey suit jacket and a cheeky glint in his eye, Adam Brand croons the opening line “we, got a whole of all night left”.
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It’s the very moment in his latest music video – the title track to his new album Get On Your Feet – that appears to shatter his ‘belt buckles and horses’ persona.
It’s almost…. Robbie Williams.
“Well, I’ve actually been called the country version of Robbie before,” Brand said.
“I can be pretty mischievous on stage, in a respectful sort of way.”
Brand quickly became a household name with seminal albums as Adam Brand, Get Loud, Blame It On Eve and It’s Gonna Be OK, even climbing to the top of the ARIA country chart.
Four-times nominated for ARIA Best Country Album award, Brand holds 12 Golden Guitars.
In recent time’s he’s even won the television series Dancing With the Stars and enjoyed a tour with Taylor Swift in 2011. Now he’s got the Nashville glam; Get On Your Feet being produced between the US country capital and Sydney, where he recorded the vocals.
“After 11 albums it’s time to try something new,” he said.
“You kind of just fall back into the old habits otherwise. I wanted to be pushed and it was a real good lesson in trust.”
Having road tested some of the new material in Tamworth, at the January tour launch, he’s confident audiences will approve.
“At the start people were, ‘woah, this is different’. But country music is changing,” he said.
“One of the worst things you can do is put labels on it.
“It’s still country with a bit of freshness, some new sounds.”
The tour brings him to Belmont 16 Footers on March 10 and Nelson Bay Wests Diggers on March 11.
Brand is quick to allay any fears that he’s forgotten his roots.
“I’m only planning to do a handful of the new songs, mixed in with the back catalogue of favourites,” he said.
“I want to get them up and dancing. With what’s happening in the world I wanted to spread some ‘happy’.
“And people ask me, ‘what’s your political stance?’
“All I can say is ‘be kind to each other’, it would solve a lot of the world’s problems.”
Joining Brand on tour will be special guest, Matt Cornell – who has achieved country chart success with his breakout singles, Yesterday and In This Town – along with talented newcomer, Gemma Kirby.
To purchase tickets visit: www.proticket.com.au.
To win a double pass and meet Adam Brand email your name, address and daytime contract details to sam.norris@fairfaxmedia.com.au under the subject line ‘Suave Brand of Country’ by 5pm on March 8.